On the peak of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, Shan Hu began the arrangement of the array.
Although his Divine Soul power was damaged, his mastery over array formations, restrictions, and the workings of Heaven and Earth's spiritual energy was the crystallization of his thousands of years of cultivation experience from his previous life.
He first carved intricate runes at the center of the boulder cluster, serving as the core of the inner array. These runes penetrated deep into the rock formation, tightly integrating with the node of the earth vein's spiritual energy. He then precisely placed the fragments of the damaged talisman stones on the eight nodes of the inner array, serving as energy conductors.
The inner array had only one purpose: to stably and continuously draw the purest, yet slow-flowing, spiritual energy from the earth vein.
The outer array was much grander and required the support of a large quantity of secular materials.
Su Zhentian quickly returned with the first batch of materials. He brought hundreds of pieces of ancient jade, several tons of high-purity copper metal, and some rare century-old wood, which piled up on a clearing on the mountaintop.
Shan Hu directed the two Su family martial artists to bury these materials in specific directions underground. He arranged the ancient jades according to the cardinal directions, each piece becoming a small energy reservoir. The copper metal was used to guide and bear the flow of spiritual energy, forming a massive energy conduction circuit.
As the framework of the outer array began to take shape, the air on the mountaintop started to undergo a subtle change. An invisible suction force gradually formed, slowly drawing the free-floating "vital energy" (the secular term for spiritual energy) from the surrounding forests.
Shan Hu observed this with satisfaction. Once the outer array began to operate, it would provide enough power for the inner array, preventing failure at the critical moment of his breakthrough due to lack of spiritual energy.
"Sir, this is the person you requested with the 'Water element constitution,' Su Waner."
Just as Shan Hu was preparing to lay out the final array eyes, Su Zhentian arrived at the mountaintop with a young woman.
The woman wore an elegant, plain white dress. Her demeanor was cool and detached, and her features were exquisitely beautiful. Her eyes held a trace of confusion and vigilance, but she was tightly held by Su Zhentian, unable to resist.
Su Waner was Su Zhentian's eldest granddaughter, the most outstanding business talent among the Su family's third generation, and the pride of the young generation.
Su Zhentian had never told Shan Hu that the "Water element constitution" he mobilized the Su family to search for was actually his most cherished eldest granddaughter.
From Su Zhentian's perspective, he couldn't understand why Shan Hu needed this type of constitution, but ever since witnessing the power of Shan Hu's single finger, he had regarded Shan Hu as a deity. He believed that whatever Shan Hu's purpose, it must be for the benefit of the Su family and his granddaughter.
Shan Hu's gaze fell upon Su Waner.
He immediately saw Su Waner's uniqueness—she was not merely a "Water element constitution," but the extremely rare Mysterious Yin Constitution (Xuan Yin Zhi Ti)! This constitution was naturally affinity with Water spiritual power, and once she began cultivating, her speed would be ten times that of an ordinary person, and she would easily comprehend Water-based supernatural abilities.
However, the Mysterious Yin Constitution carried too much Yin energy. Without a cultivation method to guide it, it would severely affect her lifespan and destiny.
"I didn't expect the Su family to possess such great fortune!" Shan Hu was slightly shaken internally, but his expression remained impassive.
"Su Zhentian, you have done very well." Shan Hu looked at Su Zhentian, his praise no longer a formality but genuine surprise. "This girl's constitution is not just 'Water element,' but the one-in-a-million 'Mysterious Yin Constitution.' If she cultivates, her future achievements will be limitless."
Su Zhentian's face flushed with excitement upon hearing this. Although he didn't know what "Mysterious Yin Constitution" meant, hearing the phrase "one-in-a-million" made him realize this was an immense blessing.
"Sir, it is Waner's destiny to be favored by you. Please command whatever you need!" Su Zhentian urged Su Waner immediately, "Waner, quickly pay your respects to Sir!"
Su Waner's cool gaze now formally landed on Shan Hu. Although she didn't understand what was happening, she knew that this young man was the reason her grandfather had become so humble and obedient.
She hesitated for a moment but eventually bit her lip lightly and followed Su Zhentian's instruction, curtseying slightly: "Su Waner greets you, Sir."
Shan Hu's eyes were calm as water, devoid of any improper intentions. In his eyes, Su Waner was a superb cultivation vessel and a key component for the array eye.
"You don't need to be nervous," Shan Hu's voice carried a convincing power. "I am keeping you here to bestow upon you a tremendous opportunity."
Shan Hu pointed to the core of the inner array: "Su Zhentian, take the Su family's 'family heirloom,' a dragon head carved from millennium sandalwood, and place it into the array eye."
Su Zhentian immediately ordered someone to retrieve the dragon head. The carving was exquisite, the dragon scales lifelike, and it emitted a faint sandalwood fragrance, clearly an antique of great value.
Shan Hu took the dragon head, holding it with one hand, and extended the other, condensing a cyan light at his fingertip. He infused the light into the dragon's eyes on the carving.
The dragon head seemed to awaken; a faint layer of cyan light flowed over the ancient wood grain.
"This object can serve as the inner array eye, but one more thing is missing," Shan Hu placed the dragon head in the center of the inner array, then turned to Su Waner.
"Su Waner, you will be the Human Array Eye for the outer array. You only need to sit cross-legged beneath the dragon head, place your hand upon it, and meditate quietly. Remember, no matter what sounds you hear, do not open your eyes and do not panic."
Although fear welled up in Su Waner's heart, seeing her grandfather's nervous and expectant gaze, she finally bit her lip and nodded gently: "I understand, Sir."
She slowly walked to the front of the dragon head, sat down cross-legged, and placed one of her cool small hands upon the warm carving.
Shan Hu smiled in satisfaction. The Mysterious Yin Constitution was the best conductor and storage unit for spiritual energy. With her as the array eye, she could maximize the stability of the spiritual energy absorbed by the outer array and guide it into the inner array, offering him a powerful assist.
"Su Zhentian, from now on, anyone who dares to approach within one hundred meters of the mountaintop, kill without mercy." Shan Hu's tone was utterly cold.
Su Zhentian's heart tightened, and he clasped his hands heavily: "Yes, Sir! With the Su family here, not even an insect will come near!"
Shan Hu said no more. He turned and walked to the center of the inner array, sitting down cross-legged beside Su Waner.
His final gaze was toward the horizon.
"Divine Soul Condensation... Today is the first step on my return to the peak."
As Shan Hu closed his eyes, a powerful aura surged out like a tide, instantly enveloping the entire mountaintop. The Dual Spirit Gathering Array was officially activated!